The dark mountain peak.
As soon as they set foot on the mountain, a strong, pungent odor filled the air, slightly choking and tinged with the smell of sulfur. Gui Li and Jin Ping’er, both highly skilled cultivators, could tolerate such an odor, but as they delved deeper into the mountain, the increasingly intense ghostly winds made their brows furrow.
It was a chilling wind, bone-piercing cold, that inexplicably sent shivers down their spines, even though its force was not particularly strong. The eerie, wailing sounds from the depths of the mountain ahead, rising and falling, high and low, sounded like night-crying apes or howling ghosts, making their hearts race with fear.
Little Grey, the three-eyed monkey, perched on Gui Li’s shoulder, finished his last wild fruit, casually tossed the pit aside, and gazed around curiously, seemingly unaffected by the strange phenomena.
Jin Ping’er’s frown deepened, and she suddenly said, “Something feels wrong.”
Gui Li halted, looking at her, “What do you mean?”
She hesitated for a moment, “When I followed the trail here before, there were no such howling spirits and ghostly winds. It was only near the Ancient Demon Cave that such things occurred. How has it become like this, akin to a hellish netherworld, after some time?”
Gui Li glanced into the distance, “Perhaps this is the lair of the monstrous beast, its malevolent aura too strong. Back then, when you came, he had just been reborn, so the place was not as it is now.”
Jin Ping’er considered this, recalling the brutal battle atop Azure Ethereal Vapors, where the Beast God had clashed with the Sword Array, nearly succumbing to the ancient sword’s might. Even so, the Beast God had managed to escape, showcasing his formidable power.
Her eyes shifted, “What if we truly find the Beast God in the Ancient Demon Cave? Though he is injured, can the two of us really defeat him?”
Gui Li shook his head, “How would I know?”
Jin Ping’er looked at him, a smile playing on her lips, “You don’t seem very confident. So, why are you here with me?”
Her gaze held a hint of mockery, “Don’t forget, Bi Yao is waiting for you in the Fox Ridge. If you die here, wouldn’t that be a great injustice to her?”
Gui Li snorted, striding forward, “This is what her father asked of me. I owe Bi Yao too much; I must do something. As for you,” he sneered, “If you were to die here, wouldn’t that be the real tragedy?”
Jin Ping’er laughed sweetly, “Oh, you are so cold. But if we die together, even a pigsty or a cowshed would be paradise.”
Gui Li chuckled, clearly not believing a word. Little Grey, however, turned and grinned at Jin Ping’er, a rare, joyful expression on his face.
Unlike the other women Gui Li had known, Little Grey was not as affectionate towards Jin Ping’er, but now, he was genuinely smiling for the first time in days.
Surprised but not displeased, Jin Ping’er stepped forward, intending to tease the monkey, when suddenly, Little Grey spat out a black object, which flew straight towards her.
Jin Ping’er jumped, but being no ordinary person, she deftly sidestepped, allowing the object to fall to the ground with a soft thud, embedding itself in the hard rock.
Looking back, she saw it was a fruit pit. Little Grey, who had been savoring it, was now mocking her. Her face flushed with anger, she confronted Gui Li, “Why is your monkey so uncouth, spitting pits at people?”
Gui Li turned, looking at her oddly, “Are you scolding him?” He pointed at Little Grey.
Nodding, Jin Ping’er expected some reprimand, but Little Grey leapt off Gui Li’s shoulder, screeching and glaring, ready to fight. His three eyes glared, fists clenched, a menacing display of anger.
Shocked, Jin Ping’er stepped back, “You’re scolding him… this beast is too insolent. You should teach him better…”
“Enough!” Gui Li barked, interrupting her. Little Grey froze, bewildered.
Gui Li glared at Little Grey, “I’ve told you before, you need to read more, to understand propriety. Why haven’t you studied the *Book of Gods and Demons*? Copy it three hundred times and then show me!”
Little Grey’s three eyes widened, scratching his head in confusion. Jin Ping’er, equally baffled, couldn’t help but laugh, “What nonsense! Monkeys can’t read or write!”
Gui Li glanced at her, “Ah, I see. If even you say so, then it’s not my fault. Alas, nature has its ways; monkeys cannot read. What a pity, what a pity!”
He walked away, leaving Jin Ping’er flabbergasted. Little Grey, still grinning, tumbled off Gui Li’s shoulder, landing with a thump. He cackled, rolling on the ground, his laughter echoing through the mountain.
Jin Ping’er’s anger grew, but Little Grey’s antics only increased. She clenched her teeth, raising her hand, a pale purple glow emanating from her palm.
But as her hand moved, a faint azure light appeared near Gui Li. Jin Ping’er’s eyes narrowed, and she stopped, lowering her hand. She took a deep breath, her anger subsiding.
Turning, she found the fruit pit embedded in the hard rock. Such strength, from a mere monkey, was unsettling. Her thoughts drifted, and she felt a strange heat on her face. She, who had always played with others’ hearts, was now being toyed with by a monkey.
Shaking her head, she set her mind on the task ahead, but a sudden thought made her frown. She walked back to the spot where Little Grey had spat the pit.
The pit, deeply embedded in the hard rock, raised many questions. Jin Ping’er’s brows furrowed, and she stood, looking in the direction where Gui Li and the cackling Little Grey had disappeared.
Muttering to herself, “How can this monkey have such power? And who is this man, really?”
—
In the vast, dark forest, new visitors arrived, a group of more than ten people, moving through the dense undergrowth. The journey was surprisingly smooth, with no ferocious beasts attacking them.
At the front, Lu Xueqi, Zeng Shushu, and Li Xun, all experienced cultivators, paused, sensing something amiss.
Zeng Shushu voiced his concerns, “Li Senior, something seems off.”
Li Xun stopped, looking around, and agreed, “Let’s rest for a while and continue later.”
The group settled, and Li Xun, Zeng Shushu, and Lu Xueqi moved to a quieter spot. Zeng Shushu noticed broken branches and tracks, “Someone has been here, not long ago.”
Lu Xueqi, coldly, “Maybe it’s the other sects.”
Zeng Shushu, “But how could they know?”
Li Xun, “We must be cautious. The Beast God is the true enemy. If others interfere, our efforts on Azure Ethereal Vapors would be in vain.”
Zeng Shushu, smiling, “Exactly, Li Senior, we think alike.”
Lu Xueqi, disdainfully, “Despicable!”
They turned, surprised, and Lu Xueqi, turning away, “Hideous!”
Zeng Shushu, confused, “Lu Senior, did we say something wrong?”
Lu Xueqi, coldly, “Beast God!”
Shocked, they pondered, and Zeng Shushu, “While it’s far-fetched, it’s possible.”
Li Xun, “Let’s proceed and see. Speculating here won’t help.”
He left, and Zeng Shushu, turning to Lu Xueqi, “Lu Senior, were you scolding me?”
Lu Xueqi, coldly, “No response.”
Zeng Shushu, “I need to ask, is the ancient sword truly damaged?”
Lu Xueqi, her face pale, eyes flashing, “What do you mean?”
Zeng Shushu, “I’m a Qingyun disciple. I must care. Wasn’t Wen Min returning to inform the elders?”
Lu Xueqi, silent, “Continue.”
Zeng Shushu, “What do you think of Cloud Ease?”
Lu Xueqi, frowning, “You think he’s simple-minded or noble?”
Zeng Shushu, “Why did he mention the sword’s damage? It’s suspicious.”
Lu Xueqi, “He knew and told us. Was he warning us or showing no fear?”
Zeng Shushu, “Either a spy, or a message. He knew the secret, yet revealed it. Strange.”
Lu Xueqi, “Indeed.”
Zeng Shushu, “Or, maybe it’s the demonic remnants.”
Lu Xueqi, shocked, “Why do you say that?”
Zeng Shushu, pointing, “Human tracks. Only the demonic remnants would venture here.”
Lu Xueqi, pale, a blush appearing, “Your thoughts, Lu Senior?”
Lu Xueqi, lost in thought, the ancient forest silent, no light ahead.
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